Capital City softball rallies to get past Helias

Kylie Baker of Capital City dives toward third base as Helias third baseman Alex Wilde waits for throw during the sixth inning of Monday night’s game at Capital City High School. (Shaun Zimmerman/News Tribune)
Kylie Baker of Capital City dives toward third base as Helias third baseman Alex Wilde waits for throw during the sixth inning of Monday night’s game at Capital City High School. (Shaun Zimmerman/News Tribune)

The little things added up to a big win.

“We preach that, you do the little things, try to put pressure on your opponent, and good things can happen,” Capital City coach Brett Skinner said after Monday night’s 5-4 win against the Helias Lady Crusaders at Capital City High School.

“You execute, you can come out on the winning end. That’s something we need to remember the rest of the season.”

The game was tied at 4 going to the bottom of the sixth inning.

Kylie Baker led off with a walk before advancing to second on a sacrifice by Annie Spratt. After a strikeout, Baker attempted to steal third and was initially called out. But the ball got away on the tag and after the umpires met, Baker was ruled safe.

“I’m glad the home plate umpire was watching and made the right call,” Skinner said.

The next pitch went to the backstop and Baker sprinted home with what proved to be the game-winning run.

“It all started when we got up 4-0, I think some of the girls lost focus,” Helias coach Kelly Fick said. “That directly led to us not playing good enough defense. If we make the routine plays, if we throw it and catch it like we should, we win the ballgame.

“But we didn’t play catch. That’s my fault for not having them prepared enough.”


 Gallery: Helias Softball at Capital City


Jaiden Kausler of the Lady Cavaliers then retired the Lady Crusaders in order in the top of the seventh to seal the victory.

“I’m so proud of Jaiden,” Skinner said. “She’s done a lot of us this year, this is one of the biggest wins we’ve had and we got it because she competed so hard to give us a shot.”

Helias took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on consecutive doubles by Molly Berkey and Kendyll Rackers.

The Lady Crusaders added three runs in the second. Alex Wilde and Addisyn Wilson started the inning with consecutive singles before Ava Morris was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

After a fly out, Karoline Klebba singled to score Wilde to make it 2-0. The bases remained loaded after a strikeout before Rackers hit her second ground-rule double of the game to score courtesy runner Madi Verslues and Morris to give Helias a 4-0 lead.

“Great teams pile on and finish the game, we didn’t,” Fick said. “We let them hang around and it cost us.”

The Lady Cavaliers got one of the runs back in the bottom of the second. Faith Karr led off with a walk and stole second before getting to third on a throwing error. Baker then scored Karr with a sacrifice bunt.

“We wanted to show we could score,” Skinner said. “Get one, that gave us confidence and boosted our energy.

“Early in the year, we fall behind like that and we were done. If we get into a situation like that the rest of the year, they can remember this comeback.”

The Lady Cavaliers tied it with three runs in the third. With one out, Camryn Sharp singled to right. McKenna Schwarzer then hit a bunt single and when the throw to first was wide and went deep down the fence in right, Sharp scored from first and Schwarzer rounded the bases for a Little League home run.

“Just put balls in play and things can happen,” Skinner said.

On the next pitch, Emma Stieferman tied the game with a Big League home run over the fence in center.

“Emma is swinging it better than anyone on our team right now,” Skinner said. “She’s been working really hard.”

The teams combined to strand a total of five runners in scoring position in the next two innings.

Kausler set down the Lady Crusaders in order in the top of the sixth to set up the winning rally. She allowed nine hits and no walks while striking out seven in going the distance.

Schwarzer and Stieferman had two hits each in a six-hit Capital City attack.

Rackers had three hits to pace Helias.

“It’s good to see her get locked in again,” Fick said.

Klebba and Wilson added two hits each for Class 4 No. 2 Helias (21-6 overall, 4-2 Central Missouri Activities Conference).

Helias is back in action Wednesday at home against Rolla before wrapping up the regular season Saturday in a doubleheader against Iberia and Blair Oaks at the Falcon Athletic Complex in Wardsville.

Capital City (19-7, 5-1), ranked No. 3 in Class 4, will host Class 2 No. 9 Iberia today and Father Tolton on Wednesday before closing its regular season Thursday at Versailles.

With the win, Capital City likely earned the No. 1 seed ahead of Helias in next week’s District 5 Tournament at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex.

The seven-team tournament opens with three first-round games Tuesday, Oct. 11. The semifinals are scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 13, with the title game set for Saturday, Oct. 15.

The district seeding meeting is scheduled for Thursday.

In Monday night’s junior varsity game, Helias defeated Capital City 13-8.